Top 10 teams that failed to qualify for the World Cup

Goal.com takes a look at the sides that didn't make it...

8 Sep 2009 16:30:09

More On :  England, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland
Didier Deschamps, France-Bulgary, 1994

By Carlo Garganese

With Portugal, Argentina and France all at risk of not making it to South Africa 2010, we look back at the biggest qualifying disappointments in history.

10) England 1974

The 1970s were a dark period for the England national team as they failed to progress to a single major tournament between 1970 and 1980. The most notable let-down was not qualifying for West Germany ’74. Requiring a win against Poland in their final match in London, England could only manage a 1-1 draw as goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewki – labelled as a “clown” before the game by a certain Brian Clough – performed miracles to deny Sir Alf Ramsey’s men.

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9) Netherlands 1986

After a spell of disappointment in the aftermath of the 1978 World Cup, where they had finished runners-up, an exciting new generation of Dutch youngsters burst onto the scene in the mid-1980s including the brilliant Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Rob de Wit. However, the Oranje lost their World Cup playoff to bitter neighbours Belgium on away goals after a late goal by Georges Grun in the second leg.


The Milan trio of Van Basten, Rijkaard and Gullit

8) USSR 1978

Despite possessing many of the great Dynamo Kiev team that conquered the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1975, including the legendary Oleg Blokhin, the USSR finished second in Group 9 behind Hungary, with a shock 1-0 defeat to Greece in Thessaloniki doing the damage.

7) Italy 1958

The 1950s was a miserable decade for Italy internationally – the country had suffered terribly from the 1949 Superga Air Disaster that wiped out almost the entire Grande Torino squad. Despite this, the Azzurri would still have expected to qualify for Sweden ’58 but a final day defeat in Belfast to Northern Ireland saw the home nation upset them. Undoubtedly the worst period in Italy’s history, it wasn't until 1960 – more than two-and-a-half years – that La Nazionale even won another game.

6) Portugal 1998

With the Golden Generation of Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Joao Pinto, Portugal had their best chance since Eusebio and Mario Coluna in 1966 to make a major impact on a World Cup. However, just like in 1990 and 1994, the Seleccao didn’t make it to the finals in France. Portugal finished third behind Germany and Ukraine, with a controversial draw in Berlin when Rui Costa was dubiously sent off while the visitors led 1-0, sealing their fate.


Figo's first World Cup wasn't until 2002

5) England 1994

England manager Graham Taylor had somehow managed to hold onto his job following the disastrous Euro ’92, but had no such luck after The Three Lions failed to make it to USA ’94. England lost away to qualifiers Norway and Holland, and even humiliatingly conceded a goal after just seven seconds to the mighty San Marino.


No American Dream for Platt and pals

4) Yugoslavia 1994

Yugoslavia didn’t even take part in qualifying for the 1994 World Cup – they were suspended following the outbreak of war that led to the dissolution and division into Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, and later Serbia and Montenegro. At the time of hostilities, it can be argued that Yugoslavia were the strongest team in the world – boasting the likes of Dragan Stojkovic (pictured below), Zvonimir Boban, Dejan Savicevic, Davor Suker, Darko Pancev, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Robert Prosinecki and Srecko Katanec, to name just some.


'Piksi' waved goodbye to repeating his 1990 heroics

3) Scotland 1970

In the late 60s and early 70s Scottish football was feared and respected all over Europe, with Celtic winning the European Cup in 1967 and Rangers the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972. Scotland took the cream from the Glasgow giants – the likes of Jimmy Johnstone and John Greig – as well England-based stars such as Denis Law and Billy Bremner, but finished behind the mighty West Germany in their qualifying group after a classic 3-2 defeat in Hamburg.


Legendary Scottish winger Jimmy 'Jinky' Johnstone

2) Netherlands 2002

Despite possessing a host of world-class players in their ranks such as Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Marc Overmars and Jaap Stam - Louis van Gaal’s Oranje finished third in their qualifying group behind Portugal and Ireland, losing to the latter 1-0 in a decisive clash in Dublin.

1) France 1994

France, who four years later would win the World Cup in their own country, were cruising to the United States after picking up 13 points out of a possible 16 in UEFA Group 6. Les Bleus, containing stars such as Jean-Pierre Papin, David Ginola, Eric Cantona, Didier Deschamps and Marcel Desailly, required just one point from their last two home games against whipping boys Israel, and Bulgaria, but flopped – conceding injury time strikes to lose both games.


Deschamps at the final whistle of France-Bulgaria

What are your views on this topic? Who were the best team to fail to qualify for a World Cup? Will Portugal, Argentina and France fail this time around? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
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